Switch



(N0 Mod l) a mmm H. 51" I V I'M RUSSELL, Jr.

ITC

Patented June 13,1893.

ATTO Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WVILLIAM RUSSELL, JR, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,646, dated June 13,1893. Application filed April 7 1893. Serial No. 469,488. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM Rus- SELL, J r., a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoeand State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Circuit-Switches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters andfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in circuit switches and the objectof the improvement is to provideadevice of this class which shall besimple in construction,economical in cost, reliable, durable andefficient in use.

To this end my improved electrical switch consists of the features,arrangements and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, all ofwhich will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawingsin which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the device in detail.Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section taken on theline -x-x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an underneath View of the mechanism. Fig. 5is a diagrammatic view illustrating two switches in circuit.

For the purposes of this specification, I shall assume that the deviceoccupies an upright or vertical position, the top of which is toward thetop of the sheet of drawings. This assumption, however, is only forconvenience of description, as the operation of the mechanism is equallyeffective in whatever position it may be placed.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elementsof the mechanism in the several views, let the numeral 5 designate asuitable supporting plate, to the top of which is attachedadoubl'ehanger composed of two parts 6, to whichis pivoted the lever 7 composedof some material forming good conductor for the electrical current. Thisrocking lever is operated by means of push buttons 8 which pass throughsuitable apertures formed in the top of the supporting plate. Thesebuttons are connected with the lever by means of links 9 which arepivoted to the lever at points 12' on either side of its fulcrum 10; theopposite extremities of the links are pivoted to the buttons as shown at13. The lever 7 is preferably double, its two parts being connected ateither extremity as shown at7. At a point on the lever located on avertical line with its fulcrum when the lever is in a horizontalposition, is attached one extremity of a coil-spring 14 which is alwaysunder tension. The spring is preferably double as shown in Fig. 2, theconnection between its two parts being passed under a pin 15 locatedbetween, and connecting the two parts of the lever, the upperextremities of the spring being attached to the top of the su pportin gplate.

To the inner surface of the supporting plate or casing 5 are attachedthree contacts, 16, 16 and 17, connected with the binding posts 18, 1Sand 19, whose extremities project through the casing 5. The contact 17is centrally located and is always in engagement with the rocking lever,while the two contacts 16 are alternately in engagement therewith.

This switch is specially designed for use in an incandescent lampcircuit and is so illustrated in Fig. 5. When it is desired to controlthe same lamp or lamps from two distinct and separate points, as fromtwo compartments of a building, the three contacts 16, 16 and 17 areemployed as shown in Fig. 5. When, however, it is desired to control thelamp or lamps from but one point, only one of the contacts 16 isessential, as will be readily understood.

The circuit illustrated in Fig. 5 will now be described. Let thenumerals 20 and 21 designate the main circuit conductors. From conductor21 leads a branch wire 22 to the lamp 23, which is connected with thecontact 17 of one switch A by means of a wire 24, while the contact 17of the other switch B is connected with the main conductor 21 by a wire25. The two contacts 16 farther to the left in the two switches areconnected by a wire 26, while the other two contacts 16 are connected bya wire 27. Assuming that the rocking levers are in the position shown infull lines in Fig. 5, the electric current may be said to pass from maincond uctor20 through wire 22 to the lamp, and thence through wire 24 tocontact 17 of switch A, and thence through the lever 7 to contact 16,and thence ma, wire 26 to one contact 16 of the switch 13, thencethrough the rocking lever to contact 17 and to the other main conductor21 through medium of wire 25. In this case the lamp circuit is closed.Again if the two levers of switches A and B are both in the dotted lineposition,the path of the current may be said to be from main Wire 20through branch wire 22 to the lamp, and thence through wire 24: tocontact 17 of switch A,through lever 7 to contact l6, and thence throughwire 27 to the corresponding contact 16 of switch B, and thence throughthe lever to contact 17 and to the other main conductor 21 via wire 26.It will thus be seen that when the circuitis closed, the two levers mustbe in corresponding positions. However, when it is desired to extinguishthe lamp it is only necessary to reverse the position of either lever.For instance, if the lever of switch A is in the dotted line position,and the lever of switch B is in the full line position, I find thecircuit is broken between lever '7 of switch B and the contact 16farther to the right. Again, if the lever of switch A is in the fullline position and that of switch 13 in the dotted line position, thereis a break in the circuit between the lever of switch A and the contact16 farther to the right of the same switch.

It will be readily seen that if it is desired to control the lamp frombut one point, but one switch will be necessary. if I dispense withswitch 13, the light may be controlled from switch A alone, and only onewire 26 or 27 will be employed and this wire will lead directly from thecorresponding contact 16 to the main circuit wire 21.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is For instance,

1. In a circuit switch, the combination of a rocking lever suitably supported, a coil-spring attached to the support at one extremity abovethe fulcrum of the lever, and at the other extremity to the lever belowthe fulcrum and three contacts, one of which is always in engagementwith the lever, while the other two are alternately in contact,therewith substantially as described.

2. In a circuit switch, the combination of a rocking lever, acoil-spring attached at one extremity to a stationary support above thelever fulcrum, and at the other extremity to the lever at a point belowthe fulcrum and two contacts, one in continuous engagement with thelever, and the other in disengagement or engagement therewith, accordingas the circuit is closed or broken, substantially as described.

3. In a circuit switch, the combination with the circuit of a rockinglever, a double coilspring having its extremities attached to astationary support above the lever fulcrum and its center attached tothe lever below the fulcrum, and suitable contacts, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a circuit switch, the combination with the circuit, of a rockinglever, a coil-spring attached at one extremity to a stationary support,and at its opposite extremity to the lever at a point below the fulcrum,the two points of attachment for the spring lying in the same verticalline with the fulcrum of the lever, and suitable contacts, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

, GEORGE WILLIAM RUSSELL, JR. W'itnesses:

J. B. WILLSEA,

CHAS. E. DAWSON.

